Health bosses urged to give green light to new GP practice in Wallyford

Health bosses are being urged to give the go ahead for a new GP practice in a growing town as thousands of homes are built.

Health bosses are being urged to give the go ahead for a new GP practice in Wallyford

A motion calling on NHS Lothian’s chief executive and the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for health and social care to ensure new doctor’s services for Wallyford has been lodged by councillors.

It comes after East Lothian’s planning committee heard calls for a post-Covid review of GP services in the town as more housing get approved.

The committee, which met two weeks ago, granted detailed planning permission for 149 new Wimpey homes as part of the development of a site south of Wallyford.

However, concerns were raised that no new discussions had been held with health chiefs over the need for additional GP services to serve the new housing.

Musselburgh GP practices have come under pressure in recent years, as new builds bring more families into the area, leading to a number of calls for action from the community and politicians.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, planning convenor, told the virtual planning committee meeting at the time that he was surprised no talks with health bosses had been held since the early days of the masterplan for the 86-hectare site, which was first lodged in 2009.

He said: “Obviously from the time since the masterplan was approved and these applications, a lot has happened: the growth in population, plus the cases of Covid and pressures on GP practices in the Musselburgh area.

“You would think there would have been at least further discussion with the NHS regarding the current situation.”

An estimated 5,000 new homes are expected to be built in the west of the county over the next 15 years with the majority in the Wallyford/Musselburgh area.

Labour Councillors Fiona Dugdale and Colin McGinn lodged the motion calling for more action.

It was due to be heard at a virtual meeting of the council today.

However business was suspended due to the death of council leader Willie Innes, who passed away on Sunday following a long battle with cancer.

It will now be put to the vote at a future meeting of the council.

The motion reads: “East Lothian Council resolves to ask the Leader of East Lothian Council to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Chief Executive of NHS Lothian to seek a commitment to establish a new GP and primary care service in Wallyford to meet the healthcare needs of this rapidly growing community.

A motion calling on NHS Lothian’s chief executive and the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for health and social care to ensure new doctor’s services for Wallyford has been lodged by councillors.

It comes after East Lothian’s planning committee heard calls for a post-Covid review of GP services in the town as more housing get approved.

The committee, which met two weeks ago, granted detailed planning permission for 149 new Wimpey homes as part of the development of a site south of Wallyford.

However, concerns were raised that no new discussions had been held with health chiefs over the need for additional GP services to serve the new housing.

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